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The debate over gig worker rights could soon move east, as lawmakers in New York consider following California in making it harder for companies like Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. to classify drivers as independent contractors. …

Cuomo Wants Bill

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) recently signed into law Assembly Bill 5, despite heavy opposition from gig economy companies like Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and Instacart, and the larger business community. Critics of that law, which makes it much harder to classify workers as independent contractors, say it will gut a wide variety of businesses and bump up their tax bills.

“A.B. 5 is huge, both in terms of the change in the law but also the scope,” said Adam Abrahms, a California attorney for Epstein Becker who represents businesses in labor relations cases. “It will take years for us to really understand this. There will be lots of litigation, lots of consternation, and probably some industry leaving California.”